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Ball spin and control

• PDDispatcher 59 Posts

  Wed, Aug 1 2012 12:16 PM

  Just when does anyone take the red dot and place it to the top of the ball instead of the bottom? I've been trying to figure out when it comes into play and is a help.

• MBaggese 15,367 Posts

  Wed, Aug 1 2012 12:19 PM

  It will normally be a lower shot...not landing as far, with more roll.  Usefull with many approach shots and drives as well, with different wind situations.

• alosso 21,069 Posts

  Wed, Aug 1 2012 1:01 PM

  E.g. when the nominal length is a tad bit short - works great uphill!

  Perhaps it also helps to pass rough instead of sticking in it (?)

• singingjesus 152 Posts

  Wed, Aug 1 2012 1:26 PM

  PDDispatcher:

  Just when does anyone take the red dot and place it to the top of the ball instead of the bottom? I've been trying to figure out when it comes into play and is a help.

  My answer is almost never. In a strong, straight headwind I will use a little(one to two dots width worth) top spin from the tee or on approach shots I want to roll a ways on the green, but full top spin is something I don't mess with. Try a practice round with wind and experiment with different amounts of top and back spin and draw your own conclusions.

  sj 

   

• YankeeJim 25,827 Posts

  Wed, Aug 1 2012 1:53 PM

  PDDispatcher:

  Just when does anyone take the red dot and place it to the top of the ball instead of the bottom?

  When you want the ball to roll after landing. Moving the dot up causes the ball to roll longer after it lands on the ground. Moving it down does the opposite.

  If you had a 130 yard shot and used a 125 yard club you could cause the ball to roll another 5 yards by using top spin. This is just an example, you'd have to see how it works with your clubs.

• bubbadork 984 Posts

  Wed, Aug 1 2012 2:01 PM

  Full "top" spin is not really topspin.  It's just the minimum amount of backspin.  I use it on tee shots where I can't possibly overshoot anything.  It also reduces exposure to the wind.

  The majority of the remaining shots I use full backspin for maximum stopping, since carry is more predictable than roll.

  On a few occasions where I can't reach my target, but full top would roll past, I'll use something in between.  

  Backspin increases the coefficient of lift of the ball, increasing height and flight time for a given clubhead speed.

  True top spin is not something one wants to achieve in golf.  It IS achieved when the ball is "topped" or "skulled."  The result is a ball that dives into the ground and all you'll really get is roll (if you're lucky).

• TigersTarts 74 Posts

  Wed, Aug 1 2012 2:01 PM

  singingjesus:

  My answer is almost never. 

  My answer is it has a huge amount of use in the game. 

  Headwind drives to penetrate the air more. 

  To extend the range of any club in the bag.

  Low rolling puch shots when coming out of the rough.

  It makes your wedge have a very large range of distance and roll. 

  Stopping backspin with high level wedges.

  I could go on..........

  Experiment with it in a few practice rounds and see for yourself how it can improve your game loads.

• dario2589 202 Posts

  Wed, Aug 1 2012 2:53 PM

  With high trayectory drivers you can add some yards flatting the trayectory, but with med drivers you gonna lose yards doing this. Also usefull with those high trayectoy wedges/irons to compensate headwind, but with long irons you could roll the ball to much if you dont know how to use it...

• bigseanbig 511 Posts

  Tue, Jul 15 2014 8:47 AM

  PDDispatcher:

  Just when does anyone take the red dot and place it to the top of the ball instead of the bottom? I've been trying to figure out when it comes into play and is a help.

   

  Actually I use topspin all the time in certain situations.

  1) If i want to go below a tree on a drive or approach shot

  2) Upsloping green or wanting to roll up on a green with a back pin location

  3) Greens with negative elevation (tend to have a backspin effect)

  4) Headwind (tend to have a backspin effect) to keep distance constant and to minimize wind effect

  5) To increase the distance slightly without having to switch to a longer club

  6) Short chip or flop shots that you want to roll forward more to have a better chance of rolling into the hole.

  7) When taking a "full" shot with a lofted wedge I use topspin to prevent the ball from rolling backwards

  *I use backspin for opposite situations

• ApexPC 3,164 Posts

  Tue, Jul 15 2014 9:37 AM

  PDDispatcher:

  Just when does anyone take the red dot and place it to the top of the ball instead of the bottom? I've been trying to figure out when it comes into play and is a help.

  I move the spin indicator up when I want the ball to fly on a lower than normal trajectory.

  A lower trajectory can help in many shot situations as mentioned in several of the above posts.